Island and Dee Lakes

About the Hike

Short-cut access to a delightful lake basin in the southern half of the Sky Lakes Wilderness.

Along this nearly flat trail it is 2.4 miles to 40 acres Island Lake and another .4 miles to the adjoining 16 acre Dee Lake.  In  200+ yards you enter the Sky Lake Wilderness, and in 1.4 miles from the trailhead you pass grassy meadow Center Lake on your left, and then climb slightly, and turn right (north) on the Badger Lake Trail #3758 (also called the Long Lake Trail).   In .1 mile cross the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  In .2 mile, still continue straight ahead (not taking) a junction to the west with the Blue Canyon Trail #892.

Continuing straight ahead (on #987 Red Lake Trail) you pass just east of the shore of  Island Lake for another .5 mile.  Now, consider continuing an additional mile north to visit equally large Red Lake (passing three other small pond-like lakes on the west side of the trail), or else make a loop around Island Lake.  To circle Island Lake follow a sign for "Horse Camp" which first passes between Island Lake and a small unnamed lake immediately to its north.  At the camp continue west to see Dee Lake (which parallels Island Lake).  Now proceed south, and ultimately follow the west side of Island Lake south (cross country) to the extreme south end of Island Lake.  At the very south end of Island Lake you will see a wooden fence around "The Waldo Tree".  Here Judge John B. Waldo (sometimes called “Oregon’s John Muir”) and other members of their party carved their initials (barely readable today) on a big mountain hemlock in 1888.  Just before this tree a small trail leads south and connects to the Blue Canyon Trail.  Follow this east, along the south end of Island Lake, back to the Badger Lake Trail.  Return as you came down the Badger Lake Trail #3758 to the unsigned Lost Creek Trail and trailhead.

The Dirt

5900’, high elevation forest lakes featuring small grassy meadows, huckleberries and wildflowers. Wade into Dee Lake for a little swimming.  Look for Pacific tree (Chorus) frog and the larger Cascade frog in the shallows at Dee Lake.  Meander pass the historic Judge Waldo Tree.

Getting There

Island and Dee Lakes are actually in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest, but is most easily accessed to the east from the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

Coming from Medford continue on Hwy. 140, approximately three miles east of Dead Indian Memorial Road turn off on Hwy. 140.  Turn left (north on Forest Service (FS) Rd. 3651 opposite the 41 mile post and a sign saying "Cold Springs Trailhead 11 miles,Klamath Falls 28 miles, Lake of the Woods 6 miles." Stay on FS Road 3651 for 8.5 miles and turn left (west) onto FS Road 3659. Drive 1.3 miles on FS Road 3659 (from its junction with FS Rd. 3651).  Park at an obvious pull off on the left immediately after the middle of the hair pin turn.  The Forest Service previously removed the trail head signs, when they posted the timber sale that Oregon Wild later appealed and stopped.  Although this trail continues to receive regular public use 12 years later, the Forest Service has never replace the trailhead sign, or maintained this first section of trail.

Additionally, on the last part of your drive in, and .6 mile before this unmarked “hair pin” trailhead, watch for a rough jeep road, “Road 080” to the right.  Park here, and walk a ¼ mile into "Big Meadows" with a splendid view of Pelican Butte (the Winema’s largest unprotected roadless area) to the east.

Always confirm accessibility to trails prior to departure.